Osage bow camoulflaging tips

[Cody Cantrell]

I am finishing up a BBO for for turkey season and I have a few other woods in the mix as well.  This may be my go to bow this year but... who knows for sure.  My delima is that I need some form of "camoulflage" for the bow so that I can take it turkey hunting but I dont want to permanently hide the beautiful yellow.  I thought about the tiger stain pattern for the back but am not sure what to do with the belly does anyone have some suggestions or pictures.  Thanks for the help guys.

Cody

[Pat B]

As for now, you could use some of the removable camo spray paint or a camo sleeve. By the time deer season arrives the bright yellow color should be a nice, nonflashy golden brown color. Pat

[Roger Norris]

I used the simple camo limb covers on this osage Shrew.

[mmgrode]

Cody,
  What I do is rub some of my camo face paint on the limbs. It does a good job and is easily removed when desired. Another good thing to do is leave the osage out in the sun, it will darken it to a rich golden orange color. Cheers, Matt

[tippit]

What I do is paste wax the bow and don't buff it off.  Then I spray paint it.  It's very easy to remove by just rubbing off...even walking thru the woods scratches will take off some of the paint...Doc

[Cody Cantrell]

Thanks fellas.

[Tom Leemans]

Just leave it out on my back porch for oh, say.... 9 months!

[Little Tree]

I like limb sleeves.Easy on, easy off....no chems or smell.

[Ralph Renfro]

Cody, does the bow have finish on it already?

[Walt Francis]

I usually add a set of snakeskins, limb sleeves like Little Tree, or paste wax like Tippit, and have found they all to work well.  Also, the limb sleeves will help protect your bow.

Walt

[Cody Cantrell]

Ralph no finish yet, heck the bow isnt even done yet.  Why what do you have in mind?

Cody

[Bowchef]

Try rubbing it with chlorine bleach before finishing it.  This will make it look like it has been lying in the sun for a year.  Nice rich brown color.

[Ralph Renfro]

If it's not finished yet, you have many options. Since all my bows are built for HUNTING I darken them up before finishing. On the BBOs I've done I take some Zar wood stain, not Minwax Wood Finish, and put a light coat on the bamboo. Let it dry and then take a cloth and wrap it tightly around your finger. Stick it into the stain and just tap the rag across the back from handle to tip. You can adjust the pattern or the darkness by going over it a second time. Or experiment, Make it darker near handle and lighter as you go to the tips. I also wipe a couple of light coats on the belly and sides of the bow before doing the boo side. After letting it completely dry. Spray on some Satin spray Poly, 4 or five coats can be applied in an hour. It drys very fast. Then hit it with Johnsons Paste wax. You'll get a durable satin finish that is impervious to water. I'll take a pic of a couple and get em on here.

[Ralph Renfro]

[/IMG] The top two bows were webbed with an old sock with some stain on it and are pretty much  "spiderwebbed". The top bow is with Dark Walnut stain, the middle is with Rosewood stain. The top bow gets progressively lighter from handle to tip. Just use less stain.

[Ralph Renfro]

[/IMG] The bottom bow is more mottled. I used Dark Walnut and threw away the sock for the final application of stain. Just lightly dipped my finger in and the alternately rolled the inner two joints of my index finger across the bow from side to side, beginning at the handle and working to the tips.

[JEFF B]

oh thats cool i like that a lot  

[Cody Cantrell]

I like it Ralph I think I will give it a shot, what did you do for the belly on them bows?  Thats kind of where I am having troubles, see the bow is Osage and Walnut and I like the contrast.

Cody

[Pat B]

The osage will darken with time unless you totally seal it from light. But, in a few months she will be a beautiful gloden brown if you don't eliminate the light.   Pat

[Ralph Renfro]

Cody, the bellies on all those bows are Osage. I just wiped them with the same stain a couple of times lightly. Brings out the grain in the Osage and darkens it a bit.

[Ralph Renfro]

So Cody, have you done it yet?